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China Travel Guide » Places in China » Yunnan Province
Places in China: Yunnan Province
Colourful Yunnan Province has cultural attractions that are found in no other portion of China. The people, themselves, are quite an attraction since twenty-five of the fifty-six ethnic groups found in China are part of the makeup of Yunnan. The larger of these groups tend to gather in groups of around five thousand people while the smaller ethnic people are found usually near the borders or in river valleys. These friendly people welcome outsiders to experience their celebrations and festivals and enjoy the local atmosphere.
The largest ethnic population in Yunnan are the sixty-seven percent Han Chinese. Eleven percent of the people are Yi. Some other groups represented in the province include Zhuang, Dai, Miao, Hui, Lisu, Lahu, Va, Naxi, Yao, Tibetan, Jingpo, Blang, Pumi, Nu, Achang, Deang (Penglong), Mongolian, Drung and Jino.
There are 394,100 square kilometres of land area in Yunnan with 44,150,000 people occupying the land. This equals a population density of 112 persons per square kilometre.
The largest city in Yunnan is also the capital of the province. Kunming is accessible by air, road or rail transportation. It is the melting pot of the province's history. Restored temples, gardens and pavilions provide a relaxed atmosphere for the visitors plus the four million residents of the city. Natural wonders such as Lake Dianchi and Stone Forest are among the delights available to photographers who visit Kunming.
The name Yunnan means 'south of the clouds' in Chinese. The province is on the Yungui Plateau in southwest China. The Tropic of Cancer runs through the province which shares borders with Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Guizhou, Sichuan and Tibet Autonomous Region inside China as well as international borders with Viet Nam, Laos and Myanmar (Burma).
The great geographical diversity within the province includes mountains, glaciers and tropical forests. Around 18,000 of the 30,000 plant species native to China are found in Yunnan. Many medicinal herbs are among them. Endangered plant and animal species are found in the Xishuangbanna rain forest in the province. The Yunnan golden monkey and Asian elephant are native to the area.
Yunnan's climate is conducive to the cultivation of fruit and flowers all year long. There is often a drop in temperature at night although the year-round temperature is comfortable. Crops that are the most-grown in the province are tobacco, rice, grapes, tea and sugar cane. The fertile plains of Yunnan with gorgeous plant life afford a good backdrop for photographers.
Tourism is highly encouraged by Yunnan's local government due to its good climate, attractive landscapes and friendly, colourful customs of the local people.
Major cities in Yunnan:
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